Pennsylvania Notary Acknowledgment: Free Fillable Form, Wording & Seal Rules
This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The wording reflects 57 Pa.C.S. sections 315 and 316 under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, but the law can change. Confirm the current form with the Pennsylvania Department of State before relying on it.
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Fillable Pennsylvania acknowledgment certificate
Enter the details and the certificate updates live with the statutory Pennsylvania wording. Copy or print it, then attach it to your document. The notary completes and signs the final certificate after verifying identity; this tool just prepares the correct form.
What is the exact Pennsylvania acknowledgment wording?
Pennsylvania's individual short form under 57 Pa.C.S. 316 uses "record," since the Commonwealth adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts effective October 26, 2017.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
County of ______
This record was acknowledged before me on ______ (date) by ____________ (name(s) of individual(s)).
(Signature of notarial officer)
(Official stamp)
(Title of office): ______
My commission expires: ______
What size and layout must a Pennsylvania notary seal be?
A Pennsylvania official stamp must be a rubber stamp with a maximum height of one inch and a width of three and a half inches, framed by a plain border. The content has to appear in a fixed order, and no words may be abbreviated except name suffixes. A notary may add an embosser, but the embosser is not the official stamp and cannot replace the rubber stamp. Getting the order or the size wrong means ordering a new stamp, so check the proof before it is manufactured.
| Line | What it shows |
|---|---|
| 1 | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – Notary Seal |
| 2 | Notary's name, followed by Notary Public |
| 3 | County of appointment |
| 4 | My commission expires, with the date |
| 5 | Commission number, seven digits |
Can a Pennsylvania attorney take an acknowledgment?
Yes, and section 316 prints a dedicated short form for it, used by a member of the bar of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court acting under 42 Pa.C.S. 327. The attorney form differs in substance from the notary form: the attorney certifies that he or she was personally present when the individual executed the record, and that the individual executed it for the purposes contained in it. Act 103 of 2016 amended that form and applied the change retroactively to January 1, 2015. An attorney using it does not need a separate notary commission.
Can a Pennsylvania notary just sign and seal a document?
No. The Department of State states plainly that it is never acceptable to place only a signature and seal on a document without any notarial language. Every notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate showing the type of act performed, and when, where, and before whom it was completed. If a document arrives with no notary block, the notary attaches an appropriate certificate rather than stamping bare paper. Signing a certificate also means certifying that the notary had authority, had no conflict of interest under section 304, and required personal appearance.
Can a Pennsylvania notary notarize a foreign-language document?
Only when an English translation is attached, including the notary wording, and the translator makes a verification on oath or affirmation that the translation is accurate and complete. Both the translation and the verification are then attached to the original. The notary also has to be able to communicate with the signer directly in a shared language or through an interpreter who can speak with both of them. That combination, translated document plus sworn translator statement, is stricter than a simple translation requirement.
Pennsylvania acknowledgment: frequently asked questions
- What statute governs Pennsylvania acknowledgment forms?
- 57 Pa.C.S. 316 sets the short form certificates under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, with certificate contents in section 315.
- What size must a Pennsylvania notary seal be?
- A rubber stamp with a maximum height of one inch and width of three and one-half inches, with a plain border, showing the required lines in a fixed order.
- Can a Pennsylvania attorney take an acknowledgment?
- Yes. Section 316 includes a form for a member of the bar of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, who certifies being personally present when the record was executed.
- Can a Pennsylvania notary just sign and seal a document?
- No. The Department of State is explicit that placing only a signature and seal, with no notarial language, is never acceptable.
- Can a Pennsylvania notary notarize a foreign-language document?
- Only with an English translation attached, including the notary wording, plus a verification on oath from the translator stating the translation is accurate and complete.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: 57 Pa.C.S. sections 315 and 316 (Pennsylvania General Assembly); the Pennsylvania Department of State notary public equipment and sample notary public statements. Confirm current wording before relying on it.